If this is the guy I saw on the news this morning. I was just assuming that
he is just retiring..it is possible though of other things. Not knowing how
everything works there for the tabernacle people..but I am sure that Jessop
aware of many recent problems involving the choir/orchestra..I will look this
up..thanks!!

I was reading that Craig Jessop abruptly just quit as the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Does anyone know why?

The article I read says he wants to spend more time with family etc. But, I find it hard to believe that, and perhaps I'm just being cynical.

Is it possible he just discovered the truth about the Corporation? Does he have some health issues? Does anyone know the rest of the story ??

That would be awesome....CRAIG JESSOP if you see this....PLEASE let us know! We don't bite!

I went to the last years of the Music Training Workshops at BYU before they were cancelled (big bummer) and Craig Jessop was an instructor. He transformed the MoTab when he came on. They sound sooooo much better.

I hope he's wide awake and I think if he has done all of his homework, gotten rid of any cognitive dissonance, he'll be a great example for those to follow who are holding back.

I know the motab can be a peyton place! I've heard rumors from within.

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“A preoccupation with the future not only prevents us from seeing the present as it is, but often prompts us to rearrange the past.” Eric Hoffer

Pastor: Dear Lord, without you we are but dust.
Worried Child: Mom, what is butt dust?

Mormon Tabernacle Choir music director Craig Jessop resigned Tuesday
night during a meeting with members of the choir, leaving the group
stunned and emotional, according to one source.

He made the announcement to choir members following a regular
rehearsal. Associate music director Mack Wilberg will serve as interim
choir director.

Jessop apparently read a letter to choir members announcing his
resignation. At first, one source said, the group wasn't sure who the
letter was from. Then it began to dawn on them.

A press release issued late Tuesday night by The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints quoted Jessop as saying, "I now find myself at a
major crossroads of life. With long and prayerful consideration I have
decided to resign as director of the choir.

For his sake, I hope he's found his way out of the matrix. Funny, I totally thought the same thing last night when they announced this on KSL news. It would be hard, though, coming from such a high profile position. If he really resigned over discovering the truth about the church, that's some serious integrity dude.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir music director Craig Jessop resigned Tuesday
night during a meeting with members of the choir, leaving the group
stunned and emotional, according to one source.

He made the announcement to choir members following a regular
rehearsal. Associate music director Mack Wilberg will serve as interim
choir director.

Jessop apparently read a letter to choir members announcing his
resignation. At first, one source said, the group wasn't sure who the
letter was from. Then it began to dawn on them.

A press release issued late Tuesday night by The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints quoted Jessop as saying, "I now find myself at a
major crossroads of life. With long and prayerful consideration I have
decided to resign as director of the choir.

When I heard the "major crossroads of life" part on the news last night, I wondered if he was leaving the church too. Someone in that kind of position doesn't usually leave so abruptly. Retirements are generally planned for and celebrated, with a replacement already chosen, not an interim director.

I would think if he was simply retiring he'd give some sort of notice and leave time for a transition - especially so close to conference. There was definitely something going on here. The 'major crossroads' is a red flag too.

This could be interesting.

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Being a musician and knowing the MoTab Choir organization I feel confident this is not normal. My impression of Craig Jessop is very good. From everything I know of him he was nice to everyone. Professional conductors do not leave their posts abruptly under normal circumstances. They are not that easy to replace and the schedule is made months, even years in advance. There is a lot going on right now with the Temple Square Chorale, Conference and the Easter Concert. I don't think Craig Jessop would leave all that on Mack Wilberg out of the blue for no reason. I think there must be very difficult circumstances behind this. Either he has very pressing personal matters to attend to or I think he was forced out. I actually think it is the latter because if it were the other I think the choir staff at least would have quickly prepared some quick presentation of thanks and appreciation. This is not the first director to leave abruptly. I wish Craig Jessop all the best and cannot imagine who the church thinks they will find to replace him.

Something has to be up with that. No one quits right before a general conference. And that article says Tommy visited the choir the week before Craig announced he was leaving. Something's rotten in the great and spacious building.

The news release at LDS.org gives a subtle hint that there may have been some annimosity on the part of the church. The release begins:

Craig Jessop, renowned music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, has resigned from his assignment after over a decade of outstanding service with the choir.

His assignment? No. He quit his job! This tells me that the church somehow felt that he betrayed them by bailing out on this assignment. Granted, this is very sublte, but it demonstrates a certain mindset by the church. They seem to view this as a calling/assignment directly from God rather than a job.

I'm sure that to some degree, Jessop viewed it the same way. But at this point, the simple reality of it was that he quit his job. There may be an issue of Jessop not giving proper notice and leaving them in a bind, but that is an employer/employee issue.

Andy:
But at this point, the simple reality of it was that he quit his job. There may be an issue of Jessop not giving proper notice and leaving them in a bind, but that is an employer/employee issue.

Undoubtedly he is a wonderful man SOOOO the $64M question is ... what happened to force him to quit so abruptly??

LDSInc seems to have gotten exactly as much notice of resignation as they earned in how they treated him.

Way to go, Jessop!!!

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“You can improve your life situation, but you cannot improve your life. Your life situation consists of your circumstances and your experiences. Life is primary, life is your deepest inner Being. It is already whole, complete, perfect.”-Eckhardt Tolle, The Power of Now

The choir director is a full-time, paid position. Like the volunteer singers and soloists, the director must be a Mormon who follows church practices such as paying tithing and forgoing alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea. Choir members rehearse and perform about five hours in an average week - Thursday nights for two hours and Sunday mornings for more than three hours.

Also the comment about him staying in the field of music...implies to me that he's not staying in the field of the mormon church....but yeah, I realize that's an optimistic implication I'm reading into it.

I hope more light is shed on it. If he really is leaving the church, I can only imagine the whirlwind of emotions he's in right now. But I think time would heal and he'd come out with a statement of some stort....somewhere....I think he's an awesome amazing person. The postmo world would be honored to have him be a part of it along with the other awesome amazing people in it already

God I hope it's true!!!

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“A preoccupation with the future not only prevents us from seeing the present as it is, but often prompts us to rearrange the past.” Eric Hoffer

Pastor: Dear Lord, without you we are but dust.
Worried Child: Mom, what is butt dust?

"Members of the Temple Square Orchestra have been advised that Jessop
resigned rather than bow to demands that he name names of members who
he thought may either be gay or harbor dissent towards church policies.
Being a professional and loyal to his musicians, Jessop chose to
resign. This is a sad day for the church and perhaps the beginning of
the Monson Inquisition Era. Bravo to Maestro Jessop for his moral
courage. We need more people like him. Shame on the Church for engaging
in good old fashioned witch hunting. "

"Members of the Temple Square Orchestra have been advised that Jessop
resigned rather than bow to demands that he name names of members who
he thought may either be gay or harbor dissent towards church policies.
Being a professional and loyal to his musicians, Jessop chose to
resign. This is a sad day for the church and perhaps the beginning of
the Monson Inquisition Era. Bravo to Maestro Jessop for his moral
courage. We need more people like him. Shame on the Church for engaging
in good old fashioned witch hunting. "

If this is true, the guy is a bonafide hero. Isn't interesting to note the contrast between someone who actually "stands for something" and someone who just talked about it?

If he is now a post-mormon I for one (with extensive choral singing to my credit) would love to volunteer for the pomotab.

That's probably the only reason I'd actually attend another church. Just to sing in choirs.

Yeah..I miss the choir..singing with a group. With all the talent in postmo,

we could really have a good postmo-tab! Beautiful songs and a background

of WFS, peter_mary, Epic and everybodies pics.. Hey..all we need is

OUR conductor!! Hopefully , he is our man.

Well....if he's not a postmo, I want to apply for the position. I was a choir director (thanks to his training/inspiration...and yet nowhere in his league) and I loved that calling. I did it the last 2 years I was active but a closet doubter...because I didn't have to teach doctrines I didn't believe in.

And hey, my choir loved me directing them. It's the only place I could command some power and adoration. ward choir .....woo hoo. I'm going to go out on a limb here and be REAL honest in saying that it's the quirkiest thing about me....I'm not a great singer or actor but I can direct a mean choir and a mean play. And y'know, is Steven Spielberg an actor????

I hope I don't live to regret my self-absorbed comment. Please be nice! But this whole thing with Jessop and stuff has me reminiscing.....sigh.

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“A preoccupation with the future not only prevents us from seeing the present as it is, but often prompts us to rearrange the past.” Eric Hoffer

Pastor: Dear Lord, without you we are but dust.
Worried Child: Mom, what is butt dust?